Hi Guys,

I've recently acquired a French market XJ12 Sov. Its registered as 1990. Its definitely a late model, as it has the later climate control facias, has ABS and cats in the exhaust.

But I've two head scratchers, I've had 4 * XJ12/DD6 pre 85 and also 3 * 88/89 XJS. Given this XJ12 is an 90 i was expecting basically the same components as my XJS but there are some major discrepancies that are bugging me:-

A) I know the XJS, went Marelli ignition in 1988. I just expected that this would be a Marelli, but its still appears to be the single level "dinner plate" Lucas ignition with a single input - albeit with a modern style coil unit. Even if you account for the French registration taking longer and it actually being a older model year, its still well after the 88 change over. Plus its got Cats, i thought they were introduced in the euro spec cars with the marelli system, but mine has Lucas with Cats ...
B) I've dealt with the Teeves 3 ABS unit on the 89 XJS and it had the gas sphere on the top of the pump. This car has ABS - even has an additional light on the dashboard for it - but the unit doesn't appear to be a Teeves system as i cant see any spheres and it all looks completely different.

Is there something weird going on with my car - engine swap from an old car etc - to get the older ignition. Or did the XJ12 carry on with the Lucas ignition even though the XJS had moved to Marelli. I'm aware the XJ40 took over the XJ6 model in 86, so mine being a 90 XJ12 is a special order series 3. I thought _maybe_ Jaguar didn't continue to the develop the XJ12's V12 hence the Lucas Ignition but then they'd have two different spec V12s to manage which seems harder to me than just keeping the XJ12 and XJS equal. Then maybe the different type of ABS is a change that was also made to the XJS and I just don't know cos I've only ever had a 89 XJS.

Can anyone shed any light on how a my car is such a seemingly "odd" spec ?

 

The Series III V12 saloons never had the Marelli system. They stayed with the Lucas until they were discontinued.

Cannot help with the ABS.

 

Oh thats new news to me ! Yeah i guess thats my answer then...

Seems a very odd choice, I'm sure it comes down to investments into a dead model. But I'd of thought it was harder to run two different V12 configurations but what do i know about production at scale I guess...

Thanks for the reply and putting my mind at rest - I was worried someone had just dropped in a pre-88 engine

 

For some reason I want to say the ABS system was from Bosch. Someone who actually knows....Gregory Andrachuk being a likely candidate....will chime in soon enough.

Cheers
DD

 

The ABS in both of my Canadian ‘92 VDP’s was/is Bosch. I can’t speak to other years or markets other than to note my earlier ’87 VDP didn’t have ABS.

 

Yes, the ABS is a Bosch system, similar what Mercedes using in the same era. I though it was started in 1991, but you might have a late 90 car.

Ignition stayed Lucas in the saloons and never used Marelli. Similarly, the saloon never used the Teves braking system in the XJS.

 

Perfect, I guess I just live and learn then.
Thanks guys

 

Chiming in: Yes, on the very late (1991-92) V12 saloon the ABS was a Bosch system, and yes, the ignition system on these cars remained as on the pre-Marelli XJS. Having had both systems, I was always waiting for the dreaded failure of the Marelli; the Lucas system’s failure was generally caused by the GM module in the ignition amplifier, easily and relatively cheaply replaced.